If you are desperate to get away from the sweltering heat, take a look at these destinations and get ready to use a blanket at night.
It’s becoming increasingly common for people to choose a holiday destination to get away from the heat. It may seem hard to believe, but in Spain there are places where it is actually cool in summer! They also offer culture, architecture and nature worth discovering. Here are a few destinations that we recommend. You can also hire a car with Vueling (offering free cancellation and also Avios), so you can explore them at your leisure.
1. Cantabria
How does this sound: go surfing at an idyllic beach, then tuck into a meal made up of fresh seafood and other delicacies (including anchovies, of course), and round off the day by going for a walk in a place surrounded by lush vegetation. Cantabria offers all this and more: the capital, Santander, is full of interesting places for a cultural visit, like the spanking new Centro Botín arts centre. Here are some of the things not to be missed in Cantabria: the Magdalena Peninsula, charming towns like Santillana de Mar, Potes and San Vicente de la Barquera, hiking in the breath-taking Picos de Europa mountains, and the beautiful historic site of Comillas. You’ll be glad to know that everything is close by and it’s quite cool at night!
Not to be missed
You can’t come to Cantabria without stopping at El Remedio, in Ruiloba – a restaurant with stunning views, serving traditional food with a modern twist, using excellent produce.
2. Galicia
Whether you fly to the bustling Vigo, the mystical Santiago de Compostela or the noble A Coruña, there are endless things to see and do in Galicia: the beautiful beaches of the Costa da Morte, which are less touristy; the Rias Baixas estuary, with a Mediterranean microclimate and wonderful Albariño wine; the Cíes Islands, Ons and, one of our favourites, the curious Illa de Arousa. And don’t forget the green rolling hills of the interior, the octopus tapas, “empanada” (a kind of pie), XXL portions, the Way of Saint James, local festivals in the towns, and much more. You can start a route, for example, at the beach of Praia das Catedrais, and finish by watching the sunset in Finisterre (but don’t forget to bring a jacket as it can get nippy!).
Not to be missed
There are many restaurants, of course, but if we were to choose just one, it would be Abastos 2.0, right in the middle of Santiago de Compostela’s food market. They serve the best fresh seafood, with basic yet creative dishes.
3. Asturias
Asturias never disappoints, and many of us would love to go there at least once a year! Because the food is to die for, and “fabadas” are delicious both in winter and in summer; because the countryside is unspoilt and spectacular (an amazing experience is to go up the peaks of Picos de Europa and discover the Lakes of Covadonga); because it has beautiful beaches, like Playa del Silencio, and charming towns like Luarca and Rivadesella, as well as fairy-tale places where you can go hiking and enjoy stunning views. And if you feel like exploring a city and all it has to offer, you can go to the dynamic Gijón, next to the sea; or Oviedo, if you prefer a more classic and majestic city.
Not to be missed
And if you don’t want to miss the region’s most typical dish, make a reservation at Casa Gerardo and order “fabada”.
What do you reckon? Are you ready to go on holiday and cool down in the north of Spain?
